Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor’s Freestride nails down start-up funding

By Newsroom

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September 16, 2009

Most drugs being developed in the Ann Arbor area have human implications. Freestride Therapeutics is turning that idea on its head by repurposing a human drug stalled in development for animals.The downtown Ann Arbor-based company began developing the drug for veterinary therapies in August. The drug relieves and even prevents shin pain for racing horses. It even has implications for companion animals like dogs and cats suffering from arthritis."It's painful for the horses," says David Olson, CEO of Freestride Therapeutics. "There is no FDA approved treatment for preventing this."Olson and his two partners, Michael Long and Noura Bashshar, plan to continue clinical trails for the next couple of years before receiving for FDA approval. The start-up also received a few thousand dollars from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund to continue its research.Source: David Olson, CEO of Freestride TherapeuticsWriter: Jon Zemke

Spending on U-M research hits $1 billion for 1st time

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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September 16, 2009

The University of Michigan has hit the $1 billion mark for research funding this year for the first time.Research spending is up 9.4 percent over last year for a total of $1.02 billion. About two thirds of that money comes from federal funding, which is also up 7.1 percent from the previous year. These numbers cement U-M as one of the premier economic engines in Metro Detroit, Michigan and even the Midwest region."That number ($1 billion) represents hundreds of faculty and students who are very entrepreneurial," says Marvin Parnes, associated vice president of research for the University of Michigan. The U-M has been focusing more of its resources toward creating entrepreneurial opportunities. For instance, it has helped launch 49 start-ups spun off from the university's research over the last five years. About 70 percent of them are still in Michigan. "The University of Michigan is one of the largest and most productive research institutions in the world," Parnes says. "There are only a handful of institutions who spend that much on research within a year."Source: Marvin Parnes, associated vice president of research for the University of Michigan.Writer: Jon Zemke

Dataspace branches out into cloud software, plans to hire

By Newsroom

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General

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September 16, 2009

Most businesses have more information about their products than they know, let alone know what to do with it. Leveraging that valuable information is where Dataspace comes in.The Ann Arbor-based company specializes in not just tabulating the number of sales, but also the best way to take advantage of them. That could mean determining what products sold best, who the firm's best customers are or why they are so profitable."The vice president doesn't care about the hamburger sold today," says Ben Taub, CEO of Dataspace. "He cares about how many hamburgers he sold and what the trend is."That information allows businesses to tweak their plans and maximize profits. The idea is derived from the data warehousing (i.e. business intelligence) concept from the early 1990s.The 15-year-old company wants to take it a step further from its software applications and break it into cloud computing. The idea is to make the delivery and execution of these systems more efficient and tailored to the customer. Right now Dataspace is working with PhDs at Central Michigan University to develop such applications for the likes of hospitals so they can project patient numbers and plan accordingly.Dataspace employs 10 people and expects to add anywhere between 2-6 people within the next year as it continues to grow.Source: Ben Taub, CEO of DataspaceWriter: Jon Zemke

Zingerman’s starts 8th biz, Candy Manufactory

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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September 16, 2009

Zingerman's latest venture, Candy Manufactory, is reminiscent of Willy Wonka in more than just name.The latest member of the Zingerman's family of businesses specializes in making old-fashioned candy through traditional methods, methods that have gotten lost in today's industrial agriculture culture. "We're playing with sugar," says Charlie Frank, managing partner of Zingerman's Candy Manufactory. "We're doing things the way they should be done. The way they were done a long time ago."That includes making fudge on a slab and cooking nugette. Right now it's Frank and one employee sharing space with the Zingerman's Bakehouse on Ann Arbor's south side. Frank expects to hire another 5-6 people within the next year. He wants to expand to 100 repeating wholesale customers from the current 80 plus he has today to accomplish this."We'd like to be known across the country," Frank says.This is Zingerman's 8th spin-off. The Ann Arbor institution started as a deli in the Kerrytown neighborhood in 1982 by Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig. It has since grown to a whole community of businesses, including a creamery, bake house and customer service. Source: Charlie Frank, managing partner of Zingerman's Candy ManufactoryWriter: Jon Zemke

College friends work to turn Art Binaire into FT jobs

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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September 16, 2009

Art Binaire isn't a full-time gig for Goran Bankovic and Nenad Milosavljevic... yet.The two friends met while taking classes at Washtenaw County Community College earlier this decade. They wanted to start their own business together, and got that chance a year ago with Art Binaire.The web development firm based out of Ann Arbor focuses on creating and tweaking websites for local firms. They have been able to develop a reputation and some customer base, but they hope to really gain traction this year."We want to establish steady revenue," Bankovic says.Once they are able to do that, they want to begin bringing on interns next year. Right now they can also bring in independent contractors to help them handle their work.Source: Goran Bankovic, co-owner of Art BinaireWriter: Jon Zemke

Ex-Pfizer employees stay in Ann Arbor, create A2PG, hire

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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September 9, 2009

Unlike many of their co-workers, the three founders of Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics Group had some choices when Pfizer closed its Ann Arbor campus in early 2007. The group of prized Pfizer employees decided to take the road less traveled."They asked us to move to Connecticut," says Sunny Chapel, vice president of Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics Group. "The three of us decided to open up our own consulting businesses."Chapel, Ken Kowalski and Matt Hutmacher are experts in conducting mathematical statistical modeling for quantitative drug development for the pharmaceutical industry. Put simply they can do the ultra-complex math needed to optimize costly clinical trails, saving big bucks.Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics Group (AAPG for short) has found its services in high demand. So much so that is has been able to add one more person and an independent contractor in its first two years. "We are currently fully booked," Chapel says. "The issue is the company wants to keep up the quality of service. There is a shortage of the people in the industry with the skills that we're looking for."People with these skills are highly prized and heavily recruited by everyone from small start-ups like Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics Group to pharma giants like Pfizer. That means for Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics Group to grow it needs to depend on organic growth. It plans to hire people with the right, highly developed skill set as they come along.Source: Sunny Chapel, vice president of Ann Arbor Pharmacometrics GroupWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s Got Apps

By Jon Zemke

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Economic Development

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September 9, 2009

Over a billion downloads served. iPhone apps are the new gold rush of software development, turning backroom start-ups into overnight successes. From companies to college courses, Ann Arbor is cashing in on the smart phone trend while preparing for its future.

Ann Arbor’s Ghostly International turns interns into employees

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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September 9, 2009

Interns could have a big future at Ghostly International. The electronic and ambient music label has recently brought on three interns and plans to hire another 1-2 this fall.The Ann Arbor-based firm intends to use the three-month internships as a tryout of sorts for new employees. The interns who do well and make a spot for themselves on the Ghostly team will be brought on as full-time employees.Ghostly International has 15 employees across the U.S., including three at its downtown headquarters. Future plans for that space include a possible retail location for the music label’s apparel, music and other merchandise.Even though many of the Ghostly International's employees work remotely from big cities across the U.S., like Los Angeles and New York, the company still considers Ann Arbor its home and major influence. Sam Valenti, the firm's founder, still maintains a home in downtown.Source: Ghostly InternationalWriter: Jon Zemke

EVENT OF THE WEEK: Hoots & Hellmouth

By Jeff Meyers

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Arts & Culture

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September 9, 2009

It's a roots revival at the Ark this week as Phillie-based Hoots & Hellmouth bring their acoustic-gospel-psychedelic-rockin' songsmithin' to the stage. Brimming with passion, soul and energy, these guys put on a helluva fun show. And they're only one of six blink-and-you'll-miss-it events spotlighted in this week's filterD.

Center for Mich takes long look at Dillion healthcare pool plan

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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September 9, 2009

The Center for Michigan has taken a long, intensive look at state House Speaker Andy Dillion's healthcare plan and has come to the conclusion that the state needs to take a long, intensive look at implementing the reform."We are endorsing the exploration of the idea," says John Bebow, executive director of the Ann Arbor-based think-and-do tank. "The idea of trying to find new solutions is what we're applauding."Dillion, a Democrat from Redford, proposed pooling the health benefits for all municipal employees in Michigan earlier this summer. The idea is that the large pool of tens of thousands of employees will create a tremendous amount of efficiencies and savings. Dillion claims it will save the state about $1 billion.The innovative proposal has drawn applause and fire from different sections of the power elite in Lansing. Business-based interests and state Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) have endorsed it as an easy choice to help play a significant part in fixing Michigan’s chronic budget deficit. Labor unions and Gov. Jennifer Granholm have decried the plan, saying there is no proof it will create cost savings.The Center for Michigan's study of seven other states that pool municipal employees health benefits show that these state pay $6,435 per employee. Michigan spends an average of $9,386 per employee, about 53 percent higher. The Center for Michigan studied California, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin. Bebow admits that all states and their circumstances are not created equal, but this is the best comparison available."It's not apples to apples because apples to apples doesn't exist," Bebow says.Source: John Bebow, executive director of The Center for MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke